1999 News Releases

West Virginia Gets $902,395 EPA Grant for Safe Drinking Water

Release Date: 12/1/1999Contact Information: Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567

Roy Seneca (215) 814-5567

PHILADELPHIA -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $902,395 to West Virginia to protect drinking water supplies. West Virginia will contribute a $1,158,191 matching share. The grant goes to the state public water system supervision program to help implement new drinking water regulations that promote the consumers’ right-to-know about the quality of their drinking water; provides funding for increased protection against microbial contaminants; provides funds to update their computer database system; and provides resources to offer more technical assistance to small, financially challenged public water systems.

"This funding supports the state in many ways, but the citizens of West Virginia will benefit the most by having safe water to drink and by having information about the quality of their drinking water at their fingertips," said Jon Capacasa, acting director of the water protection division for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources helps public water systems comply with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act by providing technical assistance and operator training. The department also enforces against public water systems that are not in compliance.

The federal money is from EPA’s public water system supervision grant. The fund helps ensure the nation’s drinking water supplies remain safe and are properly operated and maintained. West Virginia receives a grant every year.